I'm chasing down a squeak in the front suspension. I think the chirping sound is coming from the upper support arm pivot bushing. I can't get any grease past the zerk fitting. I cleaned out the zerk, and grease goes through it,, but not through the bushing. I tried a heat gun to loosen things up. I tried penetrating oil too. Nothing seems to work. Any suggestions? Might the squeak be coming from elsewhere?
Thanks,
Josh
Josh,
Regardless of whether or not it's the source of the squeak (and it would appear that it is) you need to address that issue first. I'll cautiously predict that the chase will be over. Try a more aggressive heat source (without destroying the rubber dust boot). Without lubrication, the assembly is being destroyed anyway.
F
Walt here; Remove the fitting and push a straight piece of wire into the fitting and work it back and forth. This should break up the dried grease. Then give it a good grease job with a high pressure grease gun.
Josh,
It helps if the joint can be flexed a little while trying to get the grease to go in. Also, I remember someone suggested using something thinner than grease, such as motor oil (if your grease gun can pump it), to get the flow started. Is this the bushing that is below the battery? Sometimes those almost never got greased.
Per
Hello Josh. I know how a squeek can drive you crazy! I have found using a can of silicone spray, aerosol, many different name brands, start with spraying it on the stabilizer link pins ,as you move or bounce the car up and down. If that doesn't help, if not, then move on to the top and bottom shocks bushings, spraying them generously. I think we put those on and maybe we just didn't get enough di-electric compound on them when we were assembling them together. I thought all the fittings took grease?, not for sure, but we try to make sure. Do NOT spray the silicone spray on painted surfaces and/or plastic. it will melt them both?. I hope this helps.
play video also !!
>>> http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200430913_200430913
Thanks to all -
I cleaned out the zerk like Walt said, got more aggressive with the heat gun, and the grease finally came through the bushing.
Per - it's the passenger side, no battery in the way.
But; the squeak is still there.
Doug, I'll run though the various steps as you described. Still running great though, 1200 miles since I left your shop. The book says to lubricate the front end every 1000 miles anyway.
You may have to grease it a few times and hit a few bumps to get the squeak gone. This will move the grease all around the bolt and bushing. Walt.
It's possible of course that the squeak may not be from a greasable joint. It could be body panels rubbing, or spring leaves, or any number of things.
It also could be the front spring, as maybe the rubber pad that fits the top of the spring to keep metal to metal contact is worn through, and there is your squeak. It's a thought. Walt.
